Poll: Democrats maintain lead over GOP on energy

President Obama and congressional Democrats are winning the public debate over energy and climate change legislation, a recently released poll found.

The bipartisan Battleground Poll, sponsored by George Washington University, shows that Americans believe that President Obama is better able than Hill Republicans to promote energy independence, 56 percent to 30 percent. Congressional Democrats hold a narrower – but still significant – edge over the GOP, 49 percent to 33 percent.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says voters have rejected “the same tired policies embraced” for years by former President George W. Bush “at a time when Americans are seeking new solutions to rebuild our economy and break our dependence on foreign energy sources.”

If there’s any good news for Republicans in the poll, it’s that the Democratic advantage on energy issues has narrowed from 25 percent points last year to 16 now.

Democratic leaders in Congress have been working with the Obama administration to pass broad legislation that would revamp the nation’s energy policy and cap greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Democrats have argued that the U.S. needs to wean itself off foreign energy by developing new energy technologies and investing in renewable wind and solar.

“Americans understand that Democrats put forth a wider range of proposals – from wind and hydrogen, to domestic natural gas, oil production, and clean coal — to help wean us of our dependence on foreign energy sources,” said Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston. “They trust that we will take all of these issues into consideration when developing climate change legislation and believe that Democrats will put forth the best comprehensive energy plan.

“I hope that Democrats continue to heed the call not to hinder domestic oil and gas development.”

Most congressional Republicans have argued for what they call an “all of the above” approach to energy, with expanded domestic production of natural gas and oil, support for nuclear power and investment in new energy technologies.

Texas Rep. John Culberson called the Democratic approach “a disaster.”

“It’s a classic liberal, big-government, do-good, feel-good approach that has been the hallmark of this new administration,” Culberson said.

Despite the passions on Capitol Hill, the energy debate, which dominated national discourse last summer when crude oil prices hit $147 per barrel, has slipped behind the economy and health care in the public consciousness.

Only 6 percent of those polled ranked gas and energy prices as the most important issue now facing Congress. The drop in public concern over energy coincides with lower pump prices this summer.